News Updates and Items of Interest From The Racing World - Racing Around

NASCAR Regional Touring Series Implements Simplified Points System

Daytona Beach, FL

Last year NASCAR reworked the point system for its Sprint Cup Series, and based on one of the best championship finishes in recent history after Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards took the Chase right down to the wire, it was a success. So, the sanctioning body is making similar changes for its regional touring series for 2012.

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NASCAR says the point system has been simplified to make it easier for both fans and competitors to understand. And simple, when it comes to math, is almost always better.

Beginning with the 2012 season, the new points system will be implemented in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series (both East and West), the Whelen Modified Tour, the Whelen Southern Modified Tour, the Canadian Tire Series, and the Mexico Series.

We're told the points will now be awarded in one-point increments. So if there is a full field, last place gets one point and the winner is given 43 points. The winner is also given three bonus points for the win for a total of 46 points. Extra points are also given for leading a lap and leading the most laps. So the winning driver could get as many as 48 points.

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Hopefully, this will lead to more close finishes and better championship races in all the series going to the new system.

ASA Track Makes a Difference

Lake Havasu City, AZ

We know that by the time you read this Christmas will be long gone, but we are always happy to see members of the racing community doing good for others so we thought we'd pass this one along.

Bill Rozhon owns Havasu 95 Speedway near Lake Havasu City, Arizona, which opened in 2006. Since the track first opened, Rozhon and the track have always donated to the Toys for Tots program that works to bring toys to underprivileged children every Christmas. Rozhon not only asks his racers and fans in the stands to help with the cause; he also cuts into the track's potential profits by donating a portion of every ticket sold. And we're not talking about just the last month of the season—apparently, Rozhon does this all year long. Now that's commitment!

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This year Havasu 95 Speedway donated its biggest haul yet. Thanks to several big donations from race teams along with the money it raised, the track was able to purchase and donate 111 brand-new bicycles to Toys for Tots where they surely created lots of big smiles on children's faces last Christmas morning. Good for you Havasu 95 and everyone else involved in this great project!

FST's New Fuel Filter Gains NASCAR Nod

Osteen, FL

NASCAR has approved FST Performance's new RPM700 fuel filter as another option for racers in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Series, and this new filtration system should be available to other classes soon as well.

The RPM700 is a high-flow/low restriction system that can be used in either carbureted or fuel injected applications. Even with the high pressure and flow requirements of fuel injection, the filter is able to keep up with demand as high as 350 gallons per hour while screening for particulates as small as four microns. The filter also works as a water separator in case your racetrack has gotten any moisture in its fuel storage tanks, and the filter itself is a screw-on cartridge type that is easily replaceable. Finally, FST's filters are all completely made in the USA, and we're all for that.

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Speedway Motors Adds to Safety Products Lineup

Lincoln, NE

If you are a fan of FinishLine's quality when it comes to safety apparel, finding your favorite brand just got a lot easier. Racing products giant Speedway Motors has acquired the FinishLine brand of racing suits and safety gear.

The acquisition will greatly expand Speedway's line of safety equipment, which should hopefully make it easier to find exactly what you need for your racing program. "Speedy" Bill Smith said that "the distinctive style and affordable price of FinishLine's racing suits have made them longtime favorites of our customers. This purchase will allow Speedway Motors to offer an even greater selection of styles and exciting related products."

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Speedway Motors even hints that by purchasing the brand it will be able to help FinishLine bring a greater range of safety products to the market in the coming year. We can't wait to see what they come up with.

CARS Pro Cup Releases 2012 Schedule

Mooresville, NC

After the old USAR Pro Cup Series fell on hard times, many thought it was gone for good. But thanks to the efforts of Jack McNelly and a few others, the series has been reborn as the CARS Pro Cup series. Now racers will have a place to go racing with their existing equipment without having to be forced into deciding whether to purchase a new chassis and engine to race in a different series or give up racing for good.

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The CARS Pro Cup Series has announced its 2012 schedule that will include 14 events throughout the Southeast. The series will be going back to four heritage racetracks that it hasn't been to in recent years: Caraway, Orange County, Tri-County, and Kingsport speedways. With the addition of those four tracks, the series will be re-emphasizing its short-track roots while keeping its longer race lengths and live pit stops which makes this a great training ground for both drivers and crew chiefs hoping to one day go racing on Sundays.

Mattiolis Honored

Pocono, PA

Drs. Joe and Rose Mattioli are two of racing's originals, shown here at the groundbreaking for the Pocono Solar Farm. They are the original owners of the longtime NASCAR and ARCA track, Pocono Raceway which opened in the late '60s. It's easily one of motorsports most famous and unique racetracks. Not only does it boast a triangular shaped main track, but it also has three separate road course configurations in the center all of which that can be used simultaneously.

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Recently, they were honored by the National Motorsports Press Association with the group's Myers Brothers Award. The award is given to individuals or groups that have made outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing. This year the Mattiolis were up against Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and the Wood brothers.